Muddy Buddies [a.k.a. Puppy Chow]

The first time I heard about this recipe, it was referred to as “puppy chow” and I absolutely thought that people were talking about a homemade dog food snack. I soon found out that it was an alternative (and sometimes regional) name for what is more commonly known as Muddy Buddies – a super quick recipe made with Rice Chex cereal. The cereal is coated with a melted mixture of chocolate chips, butter, peanut butter and vanilla extract, then dusted with powdered sugar. Basically, it’s one of the most addicting snacks you’ll ever make. The fact that it can be thrown together in just 15 minutes is both wonderful and dangerous. If you ask me, it’s all sorts of wonderful.

I’ve been making this concoction for years and just now realized that I hadn’t shared it with you yet! I did make a popcorn version a few years ago (“poppy chow“), which is amazing in it’s own right, but I couldn’t go another day depriving you of the cereal, chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar goodness. I love snacking on it in the evening while I watch TV; it’s a good dose of savory and sweet all-in-one. It’s great for parties, personal snacks and even to give as a gift. Fill some canning jars with the Muddy Buddies, tie a ribbon or some twine with a nice tag and you have a perfect gift for a hostess, a teacher, or anyone on your Christmas list.

My clothes never look as good as they do when covered in powdered sugar 😉

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Place the Rice Chex cereal in a large bowl; set aside.

2. Place the chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter and vanilla extract in a medium bowl or 4-cup measuring cup. Microwave in 30-second intervals on 50% power, stirring after each, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth.

3. Pour the chocolate mixture over the Rice Chex cereal and use a rubber spatula to mix it until all of the cereal is coated.

4. Place the powdered sugar in a gallon-size zip-top bag. Put all of the chocolate-covered cereal into the bag, zipper it closed, and then shake it very well until all of the cereal is coated with powdered sugar.

5. Spread the mixture out onto a wax-paper lined sheet pan to cool and set, about 30 minutes, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

54 Responses to “Muddy Buddies [a.k.a. Puppy Chow]”

Growing up my mom made muddy buddies every summer for our camping trips – we’d snack on them at the pool, in the tent, for breakfast, basically all day haha. This recipe takes me back! Thanks for putting it up!

I love puppy chow! I have so many recipes and variations for it – working in white chocolate, Nutella, Cookie Butter, sprinkles, toasted buttery waffle chunks, popcorn, caramel corn. You name it, puppy chow and I are tight I love the blue bowl yours is in!

I LOVE PUPPY CHOW!!!!! I discovered it as an adult and have purposefully never sought out the recipe because I could eat the entire container. I think I am going to have to give in and make this very soon!!!

It might be worth pointing out that this snack is wonderful for humans, but not suitable for animals! The name, as Michelle pointed out, can be confusing! For anyone who still hasn’t gotten the memo that chocolate can make animals sick, or even be fatal in large enough doses, don’t feed these to your pets or leave them where other animals could help themselves! That being said, I love this recipe and have seen it offered at our humane society fundraising bake sales!

This is always, ALWAYS, my go-to snack. It’s quick and easy to make, and everybody is sure to love them! I shamefully admit that we use twice as much chocolate, peanut butter, and butter than your recipe calls for – with the same amount of cereal. But it coats them nicely and makes some of the pieces clump together… I’m a huge fan of Puppy Chow clumps.

A couple times I have also ground up oreo cookies – cream and all – in a food processor and mixed the crumbs with the powdered sugar before coating the cereal. It’ll give the puppy chow just a hint of the Oreo flavor. SO GOOD!

I use Crispix when I make Puppy Chow. The cereal bits seem to hold up better to the mixing than the thinner pieces of Chex. I also like to spread the chocolate covered cereal on the sheet trays and let them sit for about an hour to let the chocolate /peanut butter mixture “set up” a bit BEFORE returning it to the bag to shake it with the powdered sugar. It seems to let the powdered sugar stick to the cereal better and not soak in to it. Plus, it stays crisper and fresher longer. This stuff is addicting

Can we all please agree to STOP calling this puppy chow? I am not a dog and I do not eat dog food. Furthermore, the stuff doesn’t even resemble dog food. If you don’t want to use the trademarked name Muddy Buddies, please find something else that is not as undignified as puppy chow.

It’s called Puppy Chow…a cute name for something that looks a little like dog food. The name Muddy Buddies was invented by the company that owns Chex because Puppy Chow was already trade-marked. Housewives had been calling it Puppy Chow for decades.

Actually, shreddies are a different cereal; they are a small version of shredded wheat which look very similar to the sweeties shown. The cereals used here are a light corn or rice cereal. I am also from England, I now teach at a Uni here in the US.

I have been following your blog for some time, and more recently your Pinterest boards. I love seeing your new posts. I can honestly say that I have loved every recipe of yours that I’ve tried. Whenever I want to make something, and don’t know exactly what, I look on your blog for inspiration. Anyway, I was surprised to see Muddybuddies on here today. My boyfriend told me a while back that he really likes these. Looking forward to trying them, and finding one more of your recipes to add to my collection. Your blog is such a pleasure. On a side noet, your dog is gorgeous. I have two yellow labs myself, and like seeing pics with of furry friend as well. Thank you so much.

Growing up in Northwest Ohio, this stuff was a staple of my childhood. It is so addictive and so easy to eat the whole bowl!
For me, it has always been and forever will be Puppy Chow. No, I’m not a dog. No, it’s not dog food. Pretty sure no one would get confused on either count. That’s what it’s called. Calling it anything else is messing with my childhood!

Ha! I absolutely thought the same thing the first time I heard of puppy chow! I have been meaning to try this out on my kids forever… I’m sure they’d love it. So glad to have spotted the recipe on your site. Pinning!

Puppy chow is the best. It’s so easy to make and give away to people. I have so many different versions on my blog. I like to up the pb, eliminate the butter, and use t less cereal so it’s more fully coated and has a lot of clumps.

I’ve made these twice now and they are SO delish!! I’ve loved muddy buddies for years but when I tried making them several years ago they turned out terrible. I’m so glad I tried this recipe though, because it makes the perfect muddy buddies! I’m so addicted. *Better go work out now…*

I moved to Switzerland (originally from PGH and my cereal options are really limited – i.e. no Chex. Is there a decent option other than Chex cereal? Would something like mini shredded wheat work? Thanks for your time!

Hi Kate, Without knowing all that you have at your disposal, I’m not sure which would be the best option. I don’t know that shredded wheat would work; not sure that it would hold the coating. You could always try, though!

I tasted this somewhere……somewhere? omg I can’t remember where……all I can think about is when that wonderful sensation of powdered sugar and then everything else follows. I have everything to make except rice chex and will pick them up today. I know what I will be munching on tonight as I watch Judge Judy primetime! Thanks for adding this link.